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“We are at a critical time now,” said Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), expressing worry about the recent developments. “I think we will have some concerns if this doesn’t work out.”

Early Thursday morning in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a U.N. summit convened to update a 24-year-old treaty on international telecommunication regulations, considered a proposal to give governments a greater hand in Internet matters.

The news also shocked and dismayed the American tech community.

The Internet Society, the Computer and Communications Industry Association and TechAmerica are among the organizations that have sounded the alarm about this development.

But U.S. Ambassador Terry Kramer, head of the American delegation, has yet to comment on the matter.

Doyle said that world opinion might be more effective in fighting against new regulations than anything Congress might do.

“I think if the world community says in unison that it’s not acceptable for governments to be able to to restrict the Internet it’s a much more effective thing than anything we can do legislatively,” Doyle said.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 12:37 p.m. on December 13, 2012.